Men of MathematicsFrom one of the greatest minds in contemporary mathematics, Professor E.T. Bell, comes a witty, accessible, and fascinating look at the beautiful craft and enthralling history of mathematics. Men of Mathematics provides a rich account of major mathematical milestones, from the geometry of the Greeks through Newton’s calculus, and on to the laws of probability, symbolic logic, and the fourth dimension. Bell breaks down this majestic history of ideas into a series of engrossing biographies of the great mathematicians who made progress possible—and who also led intriguing, complicated, and often surprisingly entertaining lives. Never pedantic or dense, Bell writes with clarity and simplicity to distill great mathematical concepts into their most understandable forms for the curious everyday reader. Anyone with an interest in math may learn from these rich lessons, an advanced degree or extensive research is never necessary. |
Contents
INTRODUCTION | 15 |
MODERN MINDS IN ANCIENT BODIES | 21 |
GENTLEMAN SOLDIER AND MATHEMATICIAN | 35 |
THE PRINCE OF AMATEURS | 56 |
19 | 69 |
GREATNESS AND MISERY OF MAN | 73 |
ON THE SEASHORE | 90 |
MASTER OF ALL TRADES | 117 |
THE COPERNICUS OF GEOMETRY | 294 |
GENIUS AND POVERTY | 307 |
THE GREAT ALGORIST | 327 |
AN IRISH TRAGEDY | 340 |
GENIUS AND STUPIDITY | 362 |
INVARIANT TWINS | 378 |
COMPLETE INDEPENDENCE | 433 |
THE MAN NOT THE METHOD | 448 |
ANALYSIS INCARNATE 189 | 139 |
A LOFTY PYRAMID | 153 |
FROM PEASANT TO SNOB | 172 |
FRIENDS OF AN EMPEROR | 188 |
THE DAY OF GLORY | 206 |
THE PRINCE OF MATHEMATICIANS | 218 |
advantages of lying in bed Invigorating doubts Peace in | 230 |
MATHEMATICS AND WINDMILLS | 270 |
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